Meet the Designers at Bernards Decorating
We are an interior design shop ….
Located in downtown Bernardsville serving the community for over 40 years. We offer both full-service interior design and a-la-carte style shopping. We have a comprehensive fabric and wallpaper library. We can help with everything from a small powder room that needs wallpaper to a single chair needing upholstery to complete restyling of entire rooms and whole houses. Our services include custom reupholstery, window treatments, cushions, throw pillows, bedding and headboards, and new custom furniture. We have an extensive fabric library and are ready to assist in selecting the perfect fabric for almost any interior space. Additionally, we have a wide selection of wall coverings along with the expertise to help with your selection.
Who we are
Arlene Reilly
ASID Allied
Arlene Reilly has been with Bernards Decorating since 1989. She is the owner as well as Interior Designer. She continues the tradition of offering quality design and custom products that have been the mainstay of Bernards Decorating for decades. She is an Allied Member of the ASID and brings a lifelong love of color, texture and knowledge of textiles to this work. In addition to her many years of hands-on experience helping to create and collaborate wonderful interior spaces, her great joy is having happy customers. Her spaces often tell a story with color that reflects the soul of the home and the individual. Her work has been seen in Brunschwig & Fils “Up Close From Grand Rooms to Your Rooms” and “Can’t Fail Window Treatments” in addition to featured articles in the Bernardsville News and The Courier News. She has three grown children and resides in Long Valley with her husband and two lovely rescue cats.
Tina White
Design Assistant
Tina is also a local pastel artist and does house portraits by commission. She has had prior experience in retail, management and operations along with freelance experience in set designs and community theatre. She has her B.S. in Textiles and Clothing from Ohio State University where she studied fashion merchandising. She and her husband, Ed Walter, a graphic designer each have their studios in Tewksbury Township where they currently reside after raising their two daughters in Summit, NJ.
The History of Bernards Decorating
Bernards Decorating was conceived and founded by my mother-in-law, Iris Paulik, in 1969. She originally learned to sew draperies and slipcovers from her mother. She continued working as a seamstress for clients including the Waldorf Astoria and Plaza Hotels. At this point, she realized she had a flair for design, not just construction of the finished products. When she moved to New Jersey from College Point, Queens, she envisioned a store where customers could purchase quality decorator fabrics and she could assist with their design choices. During this time, she did much of the sewing herself.
As business grew, Iris gradually shifted to the help of quality workrooms for the construction of the finished products and did most of the designing herself. She moved several times as leases and space opportunities came and went. Bernards Decorating has occupied space on Olcott Square, Claremont Rd. The Bernards Inn, and Quimby Lane.
When I joined in 1989, the main feature of Bernards Decorating that impressed me was that Iris had created an atmosphere where people could feel comfortable working on their home interiors and shopping for fabrics and wallcoverings. It was truly a home away from home for her. Iris retired in 2004 and sadly passed away in 2012. Her legacy lives on and the mission continues to keep Bernards Decorating a current and thriving business, while continuing to offer the same hospitality as when the doors first opened. Continuing this dream has been an unparalleled experience for me. We are here to welcome you home.
